Method, system and computer readable medium for addressing handling from an operating system

ABSTRACT

A method, system and computer readable medium for information handling within an operating system, including providing a record retrieval program; providing an input device within a window or screen of the operating system and configured to enter an execute command which initiates a record retrieval from local and remote information sources using the record retrieval program; using the record retrieval program to enter first information into search fields provided in the record retrieval program; entering the execute command using the input device after the step of entering the first information; searching, using the record retrieval program, the local and remote information sources for second information associated with the first information; and displaying the second information in the record retrieval program, when one of the local and remote information sources includes second information associated with the first information.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is related to commonly owned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/189,626, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,853incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a method, system and computer readable mediumfor name and address handling (hereinafter called “address handling”),and more particularly to a touch screen, keyboard button, icon, menu,voice command device, etc. (hereinafter called “button”) provided in acomputer program, such as a word processing program, spreadsheetprogram, etc., or operating system, such as WINDOWS™ operating system,MACINTOSH™ operating system, etc., and coupled to an informationmanagement source for providing address handling within a documentcreated by the computer program or within the operating system.

2. Discussion of the Background

In recent years, with the advent of programs, such as word processors,spreadsheets, etc. (hereinafter called “word processors”) and operatingsystems, such as WINDOWS™ operating system, MACINTOSH™ operating system,etc., users may require retrieval of information, such as name andaddress information, etc., for insertion into a document, such a letter,fax, etc., created with the word processor or for contact management atthe operating system level. Typically, the information is retrieved bythe user from an information management source external to the wordprocessor, such as a database program, contact management program, etc.,or from the word processor itself, for insertion into the document.Examples of such word processors are WORD™, NOTEPAD™, EXCEL™, WORDPAD™,WORDPERFECT™, QUATROPRO™, AMIPRO™, etc., and examples of suchinformation management sources are ACCESS™, OUTLOOK™, ORACLE™, DBASE™,RBASE™, CARDFILE™, etc.

However, the information in the database must constantly be updated bythe user. This requires the user to learn how to use and have access tothe database. In this case, a change in the information, such as changein an address or a name, etc., requires the user of the word processorto implement this change in the database, or alternatively, the changeis made to the database centrally by a database administrator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method,system and computer readable medium for address handling within acomputer program or operating system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method, systemand computer readable medium for address handling within a computerprogram, such as a word processing program, spreadsheet program, etc, oroperating system, such as such as WINDOWS™ operating system, MACINTOSH™operating system, etc.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method, systemand computer readable medium for address handling within a computerprogram or operating system, using an input device provided in thecomputer program.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method, systemand computer readable medium for address handling within a computerprogram or operating system, using an input device, such as a touchscreen, keyboard button, icon, menu, voice command device, etc.,provided in the computer program and coupled to an informationmanagement source.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method, systemand computer readable medium for address handling within a computerprogram or operating system using an input device provided in thecomputer program or operating system and coupled to local and/or remoteinformation management source, such as a database program, contactmanagement program, computer network, Internet site, etc.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method, systemand computer readable medium for address handling within a computerprogram or operating system using an input device provided in thecomputer program or operating system and coupled to local and remoteinformation management source, such as a database program, contactmanagement program, computer network, Internet site, etc., wherein datafound in the local database is related to data found in the remotedatabase.

The above and other objects are achieved according to the presentinvention by providing a novel method, system and computer readablemedium for information handling within an operating system, includingproviding a record retrieval program; providing an input device within awindow or screen of the operating system and configured to enter anexecute command which initiates a record retrieval from local and remoteinformation sources using the record retrieval program; using the recordretrieval program to enter first information into search fields providedin the record retrieval program; entering the execute command using theinput device after the step of entering the first information;searching, using the record retrieval program, the local and remoteinformation sources for second information associated with the firstinformation; and displaying the second information in the recordretrieval program, when one of the local and remote information sourcesincludes second information associated with the first information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendantadvantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method for address handling withina computer program, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method for address handling withina computer program, according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a screen shot illustrating the inputting of a name to besearched and an address handling button within a word processor,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a screen shot illustrating a retrieved address in a wordprocessor, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a screen shot illustrating the inputting of a name and addressto be searched and an address handling button within a word processor,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a screen shot illustrating an add new contact message window,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a screen shot illustrating a contact register message window,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a screen shot illustrating an address missing message window,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a screen shot illustrating a modify contact's address messagewindow, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a screen shot illustrating a select a contact addressregister message window, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a screen shot illustrating a more detailed mode ofregistering an additional address for the contact register of FIG. 9,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a screen shot illustrating a contact management programwindow in a full detailed mode, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 13 is a screen shot illustrating an address already in use messagewindow, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a screen shot illustrating the inputting of a name to besearched and an address handling button within a spreadsheet, accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a screen shot illustrating a retrieved address in aspreadsheet, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating a method for address handlingwithin an operating system, according to another exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 17 is a screen shot illustrating an operating system windowincluding means for address handling therein, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a screen shot illustrating an address handling program,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 19 is a schematic illustration of a general purpose computer forperforming the processes of the present invention, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In an embodiment of the present invention, single button addressing isachieved by providing an input device, such as a touch screen, keyboard,icon, menu, voice command device, etc. (hereinafter called “button”), ina computer program, such as a word processing program, spreadsheetprogram, etc. (hereinafter called “word processor”), or an operatingsystem, such as WINDOWS™ operating system, MACINTOSH™ operating system,etc., for executing address handling therein.

Accordingly, in a word processor or operating system, the button isadded and a user types information, such as an addressee's name, or apart of the name, etc. in a document created with the word processor,such as a letter, fax, etc., and then clicks, selects, commands, etc.the button via the appropriate input device, such as a touch screenbutton, keyboard button, icon, menu choice, voice command device, etc. Aprogram then executes and retrieves the typed information from thedocument, and searches a local (i.e., the user's personal computer or anIntranet coupled to the user's personal computer) or remote (i.e., theInternet) information management source, such as a database, file,database program, contact management program, etc. (hereinafter called“database”) to determine if the information, such as the name or part ofthe name typed and searched by the program exists in the database. Ifthe program does not find stored information, such as a name,corresponding to the name or part of the name typed, the user is askedby the program whether the information, such as the name that was notfound, should be added to the local database. In addition, the user mayenter any other information besides the name, such as addresses,businesses, telephone numbers, fax numbers, e-mail address, etc., sothat this other information can be stored in the local database forlater use.

If the program finds name(s) and address(es) corresponding to the partof the addressee's name typed, this additional information isautomatically entered into the user's word processor, optionally with aconfirmation from the user that this is the correct data and stored inthe local and/or remote database. If the typed address information doesnot correspond to data already stored in the local or remote database,after clicking on the button, the program, for example, lets the userdecide: (1) if this is new data (e.g., a new address) for an existingcontact; (2) if the stored data should be changed to what the user justtyped; (3) if this is a new contact with the same name as one alreadyentered into the database; or (4) if the typed address is only to beused once, and therefore not to be stored in the database at all. If,later, for example, a name with several address stored in the local orremote database is recalled, all addresses for this contact will bedisplayed, so that the correct address can be selected by the user.

The program may be extended to also store and retrieve otherinformation, such as telephone numbers, fax numbers, e-mail addresses,etc. Once the program recalls the telephone numbers, fax numbers, e-mailaddresses, etc., the user can command the program to send e-mails,faxes, etc. Similarly, if the user types in the name of a mailing list,the program create merge letters, group e-mails, etc.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and moreparticularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is illustrated flow chartsof single button addressing, according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

In FIG. 1, after the user has inserted the address in the wordprocessor, the user commands the button at step 2 and the programanalyzes what the user has typed in the document at step 4. At step 6,the program decides what was found in the document and if the programfound nothing in the document or what it found was un-interpretable theprogram goes to step 8 and outputs an appropriate message to the userand then quits at step 16. The program analyzes what the user has typedin the document at step 4, for example, by analyzing (i) paragraph/lineseparations/formatting, etc.; (ii) street, avenue, drive, lane,boulevard, city, state, zip code, country designators and abbreviations,etc.; (iii) Mr., Mrs., Sir, Madam, Jr., Sr. designators andabbreviations, etc.; (iv) Inc., Ltd., P.C., L.L.C, designators andabbreviations, etc.; and (v) a database of common male/female names,etc.

If the program finds an e-mail address mailing list/category nametelephone number or other information, at step 10 an appropriate actionis performed by the program and then the program execution quits at step16. If the program only finds a name or initials, or the like, theprogram looks up the name in the database at step 12 and at step 18 theprogram determines what was found. If the program finds more than onepossible contact/address match, at step 20 the program displays menuchoices to the user to let him choose an appropriate answer. Then atstep 22 the program inserts a correct address and name in the documentand then at step 16 the program quits execution. If the program findsone match exactly, i.e., one contact with one address, the programinserts the correct address and name in the document at step 22 and thenquits execution at step 16. If the program does not find a name in thedatabase, at step 24 the program prompts the user to specify an addressand then quits execution at step 16. If the program at step 6 finds aname and an address, at step 14 the name is looked up in the database.Then, at step 26, if no match is found, at step 28 the program insertsan address and a name which are possibly corrected by the user into thedatabase and then quits execution at step 16. If at step 26, the nameand address is found, at step 32 the program either takes no action ordisplays the data for the user to edit. If at step 26, the name is foundbut not the address, the program prompts the user for a decision at step30. If the user decides that this another contact with a same name, theprogram goes to step 28. If the user decides that this is a one timeoccurrence, no action is taken and the program quits at step 16. If theuser decides that the contact has, for example, moved and that this is anew address, at step 34 one of the old addresses for the contact isreplaced with the new one and the program quits at step 16. If the userdecides that this is an additional address for the contact, at step 36the additional address is inserted into the database for that contactand execution quits at step 16.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 2 is similar to the flowchart in FIG. 1,except for some additional steps which will now be discussed. At step 6,if the program only finds a name or a similar name then the name islooked up in the database at step 12, then at step 18 if the programfound more than one possible contact/address match, the program displayschoices to the user to let him choose an address at step 20. Then atstep 21 the user decides whether to insert the selected address into thedocument. If the user does not decide to select the address into thedocument the program quits execution at step 16. If the user decides toinsert the selected address into the document, the program inserts theaddress and name into the document at step 22 and then quits at step 16.

If the program finds a name and address in the database at step 6, thenat step 14 the program looks up the name in the database and at step 26the program determines what it has found. If the program does not findthe name at step 26, at step 27 the program prompts the user for adecision and review and whether to insert the contact and address. Ifthe user does not decide to insert the contact address, the programquits at step 16. If the user decides to insert the contact address, atstep 28 the program inserts the address and name which may be possiblycorrected by the user or program in the database and then executionquits at step 16.

If at step 26 the program finds a name and not an address, then at step29 the name is looked up in the database. Then at step 31 the programdecides whether this contact has another address. If the contact doesnot have another address, at step 33 the program prompts the user for adecision and review and whether to add the address. If the user does notwant to add the address at step 33, the program quits at step 16. If theuser wants to add the address at step 33 because this is an additionaladdress for the contact, at step 36 the address is inserted in thedatabase for the contact and execution quits at step 16.

At step 30, if the user decides that this is another contact with a samename, then the program goes to step 28. If at step 30 the user decidesthat this is a one time occurrence, then the program quits at step 16.If at step 30, the user decides that the contact has, for example,moved, the program goes to step 34. If at step 30, the user decides thatthis is an additional address for the contact, at step 36 the programinserts the address in the database for the contact and then quits atstep 16.

Various exemplary screen shots which are generated during execution ofthe program, according to the present invention, will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 3–15 and examples 1–7 as follows.

EXAMPLE 1 Retrieving an Existing Address from the Database

FIG. 3 illustrates a starting point in word processor document, such asa WORD™ document, wherein the user has typed a name 40. The user hitsthe button 42, for example, marked “OneButton” and the program accordingto the present invention retrieves the name 40 from the document,searches a database for the name 40, and inserts the retrieved address44 associated with the name 40 into the document as shown in, forexample, FIG. 4.

The above example corresponds to steps 2, 4, 6, 12, 18, 22 and 16 in theflow charts of FIGS. 1 and 2.

EXAMPLE 2 Adding a New Contact to the Database

FIG. 5 illustrates a starting point in word processor document, such asa WORD™ document, wherein the user has typed a name and address of a newcontact 46. The user commands the button 42, for example, marked“OneButton,” and the program according to the invention retrieves thenew contact 46 from the document, searches a database for the name ofthe new contact 46 and generates a screen as shown in, for example, FIG.6. This screen includes a message 50 informing the user that the newcontact does not exist in the database, a message 52 including theaddress retrieved from the document, an address type selection 54, suchas home, business, etc., and “OK,” “Details,” and “Cancel” buttons 56,58, and 60, respectively.

At this point, the user can cancel the operation by commanding theCancel button 60, ask the program to store data in the database andreturn to the document by commanding the OK button 56, or check detailsbefore storing data into the database by commanding the Details button58. If the user commands the Details button 58, as shown in, forexample, FIG. 7, a message screen is provided so that the user canreview and edit data 62 and the selection 54, store the data 62 and 54in the database by commanding a “Add and Choose” button 64, see moreoptions by commanding an “Options” button 66, or cancel the operation bycommanding the Cancel button 60.

The above example corresponds to steps 2, 4, 6, 14, 26, 28 and 16 in theflow chart of FIG. 1 and steps 2, 4, 6, 14, 26, 27, 28 and 16 in theflow chart of FIG. 2.

EXAMPLE 3 Try to Retrieve Existing Address, but Contact is not inDatabase

FIG. 3 illustrates a starting point in word processor document, such asa WORD™ document, wherein the user has typed a name of a contact 40. Theuser commands the button 42, for example, marked “OneButton,” and theprogram according to the present invention retrieves the name 40 fromthe document, searches a database for the name of the contact 40 andgenerates a screen as shown in, for example, FIG. 8. This screenincludes a message 68 informing the user that the contact does not existin the database and to specify an address, and “OK” buttons 56. At thispoint when the user commands the OK button 56, the user returns to thedocument so that the contact's address can be included as in Example 2above.

The above example corresponds to steps 2, 4, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 16 in theflow charts of FIGS. 1 and 2.

EXAMPLE 4 Adding a New Address for an Existing Contact (Short Version)

FIG. 4 illustrates a starting point in word processor document, such asa WORD™ document, wherein the user has typed a name and new address ofan existing contact 44. The user commands the button 42, for example,marked “OneButton,” and the program according to the present inventionretrieves the existing contact 44 from the document, searches a databasefor the name of the existing contact 44 and generates a screen as shownin, for example, FIG. 9. This screen includes a message 70 informing theuser that the contact already exits in the database with an existingaddress, a message 72 including the existing address, add new contactwith same name selection 74, change existing address selection 76, useexisting address in document selection 78, add the new address tocontact selection 80, the address type selection 54, such as home,business, etc., and the “OK,” “Details,” and “Cancel” buttons 56, 58,and 60 respectively. At this point, the user may select one of the fouroptions 74–80, and command the OK button 56 to execute the selectedoptions. The user can also cancel the operation by commanding the Cancelbutton 60, or check details before storing data into the database bycommanding the Details button 58.

The above example corresponds to steps 2, 4, 6, 14, 26, 28, 30, 34, 36,and 16 in the flow chart of FIG. 1 and steps 2, 4, 6, 14, 26, 29, 31,30, 28, 34, 36, and 16 in the flow chart of FIG. 2.

EXAMPLE 5 Selecting Between Several Possible Matching Addresses

FIG. 3 illustrates a starting point in word processor document, such asa WORD™ document, wherein the user has typed a name and possibly addressof at least one existing contact 40. The user commands the button 42,for example, marked “OneButton,” and the program according to thepresent invention retrieves the existing contact 40 from the document,searches a database for the name of the existing contact 40 andgenerates a screen as shown in, for example, FIG. 10. This screenincludes a message informing the user that the name corresponds toseveral addresses and possible contacts which already exist in thedatabase, with existing contacts and addresses for selection 82, amessage 84 including the full name and address for the contact that theuser selects in 82, the Options button 66, a “Choose” button 86, a “Fulldetails” button 88, a “More>>>” button 90, and the Cancel button 60. Theabove screen indicates to the user that at least one contact with thesame name exists, and that there are more than one addresses and/orcontacts that match.

At this point, the user may command the Choose button 86 to use theselected address and return to the document, or the user may command theMore>>> button 90 to view how the program interpreted what the usertyped in the word processor, and possibly change this data, wherein theprogram generates an updated screen as shown in, for example, FIG. 11.The updated screen includes the data 62 which displays the name typed inthe word processor as interpreted by the program, address fields, andthe fields for the address type selection 54, such as home, business,etc., which may be changed by the user before the program stores it inthe database, the Add and Choose button 64, a “<<<Less” button 90corresponding to the More>>> button 90 for returning to the screen ofFIG. 10, and an “Add this address to the selected contact above” button92. The user might then command the Add this address to the selectedcontact above button 92 and the result in the word processor isillustrated in FIG. 4. The user can also cancel the operation bycommanding the Cancel button 60, or command the add choose button 64 toadd this name and address as a new contact and address, or open thedatabase before storing data into the database by commanding a “Fulldetails” button 88 as will be later described.

The above example corresponds to steps 2, 4, 6, 12, 18, 20, 22, and 16in the flow chart of FIG. 1 and steps 2, 4, 6, 12, 18, 20, 21, 22, and16 in the flow chart of FIG. 2.

EXAMPLE 6 Adding a New Address for an Existing Contact (Long Version)

FIG. 4 illustrates a starting point in word processor document, such asa WORD™ document, wherein the user has typed a name and new address ofan existing contact 44. The user commands the button 42, for example,marked “OneButton,” and the program according to the present inventionretrieves the existing contact 44 from the document, searches a databasefor the name of the existing contact 44 and generates a screen as shownin, for example, FIG. 9. As previously described, the screen includes amessage 70 informing the user that the contact already exits in thedatabase with an existing address, and the user may command the Detailsbutton 58 to see the details of the new address for potentially modifythe details before they are stored in the database and the programgenerates a screen as shown in, for example, FIG. 10. From this screen,the user may choose to use another address than the one he typed, andreturn to the document, or the user may command the “Full details”button 88 to enter a database program, such as OUTLOOK™, directly asshown in, for example, FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, the database program, suchas OUTLOOK™, may include portions 94–104 for allowing the user to modifyvarious pieces of data before they are stored in the database.

Alternatively, in the screen shown in FIG. 10, the user may command theMore>>> button 90 at which time the program generates the screen asshown in, for example, FIG. 11 and as previously described. In thisscreen, the user might then command the Add this address to the selectedcontact above button 92. If the address typed is already in use, theprogram generates a screen including a message 106, and “Yes” and “No”buttons, 108 and 110, respectively, as shown in, for example, FIG. 13.If the user hits the Yes button 108 the program overwrites the contactaddress with the address specified by the user (e.g., if the contact hasmoved) and the result in the word processor is shown in, for example,FIG. 4.

The above example corresponds to steps 2, 4, 6, 12, 14, 26, 28, 30, 34,36, and 16 in the flow chart of FIG. 1 and steps 2, 4, 6, 12, 14, 26,29, 31, 30, 28, 34, 36, and 16 in the flow chart of FIG. 2.

EXAMPLE 7 Spreadsheet Application

FIG. 14 illustrates a starting point in word processor document, such asan EXCEL™ spreadsheet, wherein the user has typed a name 112. The userhits the button 42, for example, marked “OneButton,” and the programaccording to the present invention retrieves the name 112 from thespreadsheet, searches a database for the name 112, and inserts theretrieved address 114 into the spreadsheet as shown in, for example,FIG. 15. Accordingly, the examples 1–6 apply not only to word processordocuments, such as WORD™ documents, etc., but to other word processordocuments, and spread sheets, such as EXCEL™ spreadsheets, etc.

The above example corresponds to steps 2, 4, 6, 12, 18, 22 and 16 in theflow charts of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Up to this point, the single button addressing program has beendescribed in terms of providing a device for address handling within acomputer program, such as a word processor or spread sheet. Thefollowing embodiment of the single button addressing program runs on aclient (e.g., a computer, cell phone, or palm top device) operatingsystem and integrates local address and phone number data with networkdata, such as data obtained from an Intranet or the Internet, resolvingdifferences and presenting them in a unified format.

The single button addressing program works within word processing,personal information management, etc., software (e.g, as previouslydescribed). The single button addressing program allows the data foundon a network Intranet or Internet site to be saved in the local databaseand checked against network data as it changes, without the networkdatabase being aware of the local database. The network can be a publicnetwork, such as the Internet, or a private data network, such as anIntranet. The local database can be a database management system, suchas Microsoft ACCESS™, Microsoft SQL server, etc., running on the localcomputer or any accessible server. The local database can also be anapplication, such as a personal information manager like MicrosoftOUTLOOK™ or Symantec Act!™, etc., that maintains a database therein.Similarly, the remote database may be a public or private data service,a Web-based data source, or a CD-ROM of information used in the user'scomputer or computer network.

The invention according to the present embodiment performs dataintegration in the following way: (1) the address handling function istypically implemented as a subprogram within a larger program, such asthe single button address program provided in a word processor aspreviously described or as single button address program provided in anoperating system as will be later described; (2) the subprogram isstarted with a complete or partial name and address; (3) the subprogramqueries the local and remote databases and compares the results; (4) thesubprogram provides user interface for the user to select theappropriate result wherein the choices are marked based on whether thedata is remote or local. If data was originally remote and the usersaved it locally, the user is alerted if the data has changed on theremote database; (5) if the data chosen by the user is different or notpresent in the local database, the user is given the opportunity to savethe data locally; and (6) the chosen address is returned to the callingprogram, which may, for example, include it in a document.

FIG. 16 illustrates a method for address handling from an operatingsystem, such as WINDOWS™ operating system, MACINTOSH™ operating system,etc., according to the present embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 16,at step 116, an address is received from an application or is entereddirectly into the single button addressing subprogram. At step 118, thesubprogram retrieves all matches from a local database. At step 120, thesubprogram retrieves all matches from a network or remote database.

At step 122, the subprogram determines whether or not there are anymatching address results. If there are no matching results, the user isgiven the opportunity to store or not to store the address at step 124.If the user chooses to store the address, at step 128 the address isstored in the local database. If the user chooses not to store theaddress, at step 132 the address is returned to the calling program asdelivered to the user and without being stored in the local database.

If at step 122 the subprogram determines that there are matchingresults, the local and remote matching database results are compared atstep 126 as follows. At step 126 a, for each match in the localdatabase, step 126 b determines whether or not there is a correspondingmatch in the remote or network database results. At step 126 c, if amatch is found between the local and remote databases, the matchingresult is marked as local data which is consistent with the networkdata. At step 126 c, if no match is found between the local and remotedatabases, step 126 e determines whether or no the local data was markedas consistent with the network data. If the local data was not marked asconsistent with the network data, at step 126 f the local data is markedas inconsistent with the network data. If the local data was marked asconsistent with the network data, control transfers back to step 126 ato process the next match in the local database.

FIG. 17, illustrates an exemplary operating system screen 142, such as aWINDOWS 95™ operating system screen, including the single buttonaddressing subprogram implemented as tool bar subprogram 144 a or as adesktop icon subprogram 144 b. The single button addressing subprogramcan also be launched from a word processing application 146, aspreviously discussed, or via the WINDOWS 95™ Start menu 148.

FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary search screen 150 generated by thesingle button addressing subprogram after it has been launched. In thisexample, a user ran a search (i.e., from the standalone single buttonaddressing subprogram) against local data stored in, for example,Microsoft OUTLOOK™ and remote data stored in, for example, a remote webservice.

In FIG. 18, the search screen 150 includes, for example, a Find Nowbutton 152 for executing a search, a Stop button for stopping a searchin progress and a Save button 156 for saving found data. The searchscreen 150 includes, for example, File, Option and Help menu selections158, search criteria 164, including, for example, fields for inputting aName, a City and/or Country, and Public/Private indicators 168, forindicating Private, Corporation and/or Public database searchingoptions. The search results are displayed in a search window includingName, Address, City and Phone sort buttons 170, which sort the searchresults according to the button selected.

The search results are further marked with status indicators 172–178.Status indicator 172, for example, includes a computer icon with nocolor which indicates that the same data was found both locally and onthe remote database (e.g., the Internet). Status indicator 174, forexample, includes a globe icon which indicates that the same data wasfound on the remote database, but not on the local database. Statusindicator 176, for example, includes a computer icon of a first color(e.g., yellow) which indicates that the same data was found on the localdatabase, but not on the remote database. Status indicator 178, forexample, includes a computer icon of a second color (e.g., red) whichindicates that the data was originally added to the local database fromthe remote database, but now is no longer found on the remote database.

FIG. 19 is a schematic illustration of a computer system forimplementing the single button addressing according to the presentinvention. A computer 200 implements the method of the presentinvention, wherein the computer includes, for example, a display device202, such as a conventional display device or a touch screen monitorwith a touch-screen interface, etc., a keyboard 204, a pointing device206, a mouse pad or digitizing pad 208, a hard disk 210, or other fixed,high density media drives, connected using an appropriate device bus(e.g., a SCSI bus, an Enhanced IDE bus, an Ultra DMA bus, a PCI bus,etc.), a floppy drive 212, a tape or CD ROM drive 214 with tape or CDmedia 216, or other removable media devices, such as magneto-opticalmedia, etc., and a mother board 218. The mother board 218 includes, forexample, a processor 220, a RAM 222, and a ROM 224 (e.g., DRAM, ROM,EPROM, EEPROM, SRAM, SDRAM, and Flash RAM, etc.), I/O ports 226 whichmay be used to couple to external devices, networks, etc., (not shown),and optional special purpose logic devices (e.g., ASICs) or configurablelogic devices (e.g., GAL and re-programmable FPGA) 228 for performingspecialized hardware/software functions, such as sound processing, imageprocessing, signal processing, neural network processing, objectcharacter recognition (OCR) processing, etc., a microphone 230, and aspeaker or speakers 232.

As stated above, the system includes at least one computer readablemedium, or alternatively, the computer readable medium may be accessedthrough various paths, such as networks, internet, drives, etc. Examplesof computer readable media are compact discs, hard disks, floppy disks,tape, magneto-optical disks, PROMs (EPROM, EEPROM, Flash EPROM), DRAM,SRAM, SDRAM, etc. Stored on any one or on a combination of computerreadable media, the present invention includes software for controllingboth the hardware of the computer 200 and for enabling the computer 200to interact with a human user. Such software may include, but is notlimited to, device drivers, operating systems and user applications,such as development tools. Such computer readable media further includesthe computer program product of the present invention for performing anyof the processes according to the present invention, described above(see, e.g., FIGS. 1–18). The computer code devices of the presentinvention can be any interpreted or executable code mechanism, includingbut not limited to scripts, interpreters, dynamic link libraries, Javaclasses, and complete executable programs, etc.

The invention may also be implemented by the preparation of applicationspecific integrated circuits or by interconnecting an appropriatenetwork of conventional component circuits, as will be readily apparentto those skilled in the art.

Address handling, according to this invention, is a significantsimplification relative to existing methods, and requires little or notraining on the part of a user, as correct addresses are retrieved witha minimal number of user commands, “clicks”, keystrokes, etc. Inaddition, a program according to the present invention, can beprogrammed and created in most existing programming languages and beconnected to most modern word processors. Therefore, according to thepresent invention, the process of creating and updating records in anaddress database is significantly simplified, since this may now beperformed directly from the word processor.

Although the present invention is defined in terms of word processingdocuments, such as WORD™ documents and EXCEL™ spreadsheets, the presentinvention is applicable to all types of word processing documents, suchas NOTEPAD™, WORDPAD™, WORDPERFECT™, QUATROPRO™, AMIPRO™, etc., as willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Although the present invention is defined in terms of informationmanagement or database programs, such as OUTLOOK™, etc., the presentinvention is applicable to all types of information management ordatabase programs, such as ACCESS™, ORACLE™, DBASE™, RBASE™, CARDFILE™,including “flat files,” etc., as will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

Although the present invention is defined in terms of operating systems,such as WINDOWS™, MACINTOSH™, etc., the present invention is applicableto all types of operating systems, such as UNIX™, LINUX™, etc., as willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Although the present invention is defined in terms of providing an inputdevice, such as a button 42 in a word processor for address handlingtherein, the present invention may be practiced with all types of inputdevices, such as a touch screen, keyboard button, icon, menu, voicecommand device, etc., as will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art.

Although the present invention is defined in terms of a programretrieving information from a document before searching a database, theuser may select the information in the document to be searched by theprogram in the database (e.g., by highlighting, selecting, italicizing,underlining, etc.), as will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart.

Although the present invention is defined in terms of a programretrieving a name or portion thereof from a document before searching adatabase, the program may retrieve an address or portion thereof fromthe document before searching the database and insert, correct,complete, etc., the retrieved address based on the information found inthe database corresponding to the retrieved address or portion thereof,as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Although the present invention is defined in terms of an embodiment asdescribed with respect to FIGS. 16–18, all of the relevant features asdescribed with respect to FIGS. 1–15 apply to the embodiment asdescribed with respect to FIGS. 16–18, as will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art. Similarly, although the present invention isdefined in terms of an embodiment as described with respect to FIGS.1–15, all of the relevant features as described with respect to FIGS.16–18 apply to the embodiment as described with respect to FIGS. 1–15,as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Although the present invention is defined in terms of an addresshandling program provided in an operating system environment, such asWINDOWS™, MACINTOSH™, etc., of a personal computer, the program may runon an operating system environment, such as WINDOWS CE™, etc., of aclient, such as cell phone, palm top device, personal organizer, etc.,as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is thereforeto be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically describedherein.

This application claims priority and contains subject matter related toNorwegian patent application No. 984066 filed on Sep. 3, 1998, theentire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

1. A computerized method for information handling, comprising: providingan input device configured to enter an execute command which initiates arecord retrieval from local and remote information sources using acomputer program; using said computer program to enter first informationinto search fields provided in said computer program; entering theexecute command using the input device after the step of entering thefirst information; searching, using the computer program, directly thelocal and remote information sources for second information associatedwith the first information; comparing the second information retrievedfrom the local information source with second information retrieved fromthe remote information source; and displaying the second informationfrom at least one of the local and remote information sources, when oneof the local and remote information sources includes second informationassociated with the first information.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: storing the first information in the local informationsource if no second information associated with the first information isfound in the local and remote information sources during said searchingstep.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing a user theoption of making changes to the second information directly in the localinformation source.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein: the step of usingsaid computer program comprises using said computer program to enterfirst information comprising at least one of a name, a title, anaddress, a telephone number, and an email address, or a part thereof,into said computer program; and the step of searching comprisessearching, using the computer program, the local and remote informationsources for second information comprising at least one of a name, atitle, an address, a telephone number, and an email address, associatedwith the first information.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein: the stepof providing an input device comprises providing one of a touch screen,a keyboard button, an icon, a menu and a voice command device,configured to enter an execute command which initiates a recordretrieval from local and remote information sources using the computerprogram; and the step of displaying the second information comprisesdisplaying the second information comprising one of displaying thesecond information and providing a voiced response of the secondinformation.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of providing aninput device comprises: providing an input device configured to enter anexecute command which initiates a record retrieval from local and remoteinformation sources comprising at least one of a file, a database, adatabase program, a computer network, and a contact management program,using the computer program.
 7. The method of claim 3, furthercomprising: storing the first information in the local informationsource if no second information associated with the first information isfound in the local and remote information sources during said searchingstep; and wherein said displaying step, includes, marking the secondinformation found in the local information source as consistent with thesecond information found in the remote information source, if secondinformation associated with the first information is found in both thelocal and remote information sources, marking the second informationfound in the local information source as inconsistent with the secondinformation found in the remote information source, if secondinformation associated with the first information is found in only thelocal and information source, and displaying the marked secondinformation.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein: the step of using saidcomputer program comprises using said computer program to enter firstinformation comprising at least one of a name, a title, an address, atelephone number, and an email address, or a part thereof, into saidcomputer program; and the step of searching comprises searching, usingthe computer program, the local and remote information sources forsecond information comprising at least one of a name, a title, anaddress, a telephone number, and an email address, associated with thefirst information.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein: the step ofproviding an input device comprises providing one of a touch screen, akeyboard button, an icon, a menu and a voice command device, configuredto enter an execute command which initiates a record retrieval fromlocal and remote information sources using the computer program; and thestep of displaying the second information comprises displaying thesecond information comprising one of displaying the second informationand providing a voiced response of the second information.
 10. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the step of providing an input devicecomprises: providing an input device configured to enter an executecommand which initiates a record retrieval from local and remoteinformation sources comprising at least one of a file, a database, adatabase program, a computer network, and a contact management program,using the computer program.
 11. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising: storing the first information in the local informationsource if no second information associated with the first information isfound in the local and remote information sources during said searchingstep; and wherein said displaying step, includes, marking the secondinformation found in the local information source as consistent with thesecond information found in the remote information source, if secondinformation associated with the first information is found in both thelocal and remote information sources, marking the second informationfound in the local information source as inconsistent with the secondinformation found in the remote information source, if secondinformation associated with the first information is found in only thelocal and information source, and displaying the marked secondinformation.
 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising: providing auser the option of making changes to the second information directly inthe local information source.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein: thestep of providing an input device comprises providing one of a touchscreen, a keyboard button, an icon, a menu and a voice command device,configured to enter an execute command which initiates a recordretrieval from local and remote information sources using the computerprogram; and the step of displaying the second information comprisesdisplaying the second information comprising one of displaying thesecond information and providing a voiced response of the secondinformation.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providingan input device comprises: providing an input device configured to enteran execute command which initiates a record retrieval from local andremote information sources comprising at least one of a file, adatabase, a database program, a computer network, and a contactmanagement program, using the computer program.
 15. The method of claim13, further comprising: storing the first information in the localinformation source if no second information associated with the firstinformation is found in the local and remote information sources duringsaid searching step; and wherein said displaying step, includes, markingthe second information found in the local information source asconsistent with the second information found in the remote informationsource, if second information associated with the first information isfound in both the local and remote information sources, marking thesecond information found in the local information source as inconsistentwith the second information found in the remote information source, ifsecond information associated with the first information is found inonly the local and information source, and displaying the marked secondinformation.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising: providing auser the option of making changes to the second information directly inthe local information source.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein: thestep of using said computer program comprises using said computerprogram to enter first information comprising at least one of a name, atitle, an address, a telephone number, and an email address, or a partthereof, into said computer program retrieval program; and the step ofsearching comprises searching, using the computer program, the local andremote information sources for second information comprising at leastone of a name, a title, an address, a telephone number, and an emailaddress, associated with the first information.
 18. The method of claim1, wherein the step of providing an input device comprises: providing aninput device configured to enter an execute command which initiates arecord retrieval from local and remote information sources comprising atleast one of a file, a database, a database program, a computer network,and a contact management program, using the record retrieval program.19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: storing the firstinformation in the local information source if no second informationassociated with the first information is found in the local and remoteinformation sources during said searching step; and wherein saiddisplaying step, includes, marking the second information found in thelocal information source as consistent with the second information foundin the remote information source, if second information associated withthe first information is found in both the local and remote informationsources, marking the second information found in the local informationsource as inconsistent with the second information found in the remoteinformation source, if second information associated with the firstinformation is found in only the local and information source, anddisplaying the marked second information.
 20. The method of claim 18,further comprising: providing a user the option of making changes to thesecond information directly in the local information source.
 21. Themethod of claim 18, wherein: the step of using said computer programcomprises using said computer program to enter first informationcomprising at least one of a name, a title, an address, a telephonenumber, and an email address, or a part thereof, into said computerprogram; and the step of searching comprises searching, using thecomputer program, the local and remote information sources for secondinformation comprising at least one of a name, a title, an address, atelephone number, and an email address, associated with the firstinformation.
 22. The method of claim 18, wherein: the step of providingan input device comprises providing one of a touch screen, a keyboardbutton, an icon, a menu and a voice command device, configured to enteran execute command which initiates a record retrieval from local andremote information sources using the computer program; and the step ofdisplaying the second information comprises displaying the secondinformation comprising one of displaying the second information andproviding a voiced response of the second information.
 23. A computersystem configured to perform the steps recited in any one of claims 18.24. A storage medium storing a program for performing the steps recitedin any one of claims 1–18.
 25. A computerized method for informationhandling comprising: providing an input device configured to enter anexecute command which initiates a record retrieval from local and remoteinformation sources using a computer program; using said recordretrieval program to enter first information into search fields providedin said computer program; entering the execute command using the inputdevice after the step of entering the first information; searching,using the computer program, directly the local and remote informationsources for second information associated with the first information;displaying the second information from at least one of the local andremote information sources in said computer program, when one of thelocal and remote information sources includes second informationassociated with the first information; storing the first information inthe local information source if no second information associated withthe first information is found in the local and remote informationsources during said searching step; and wherein said displaying step,includes, marking the second information found in the local informationsource as consistent with the second information found in the remoteinformation source, if second information associated with the firstinformation is found in both the local and remote information sourcesand is consistent, marking the second information found in the localinformation source as inconsistent with the second information found inthe remote information source, if second information associated with thefirst information is found in only the local and information source orif second information is found in both the local and remote informationsources and is inconsistent, and displaying the marked secondinformation.
 26. A computer readable medium for information handling,the computer readable medium including program instructions forperforming the steps of: providing an input device configured to enteran execute command which initiates a record retrieval from local andremote information sources using a computer program; using said computerprogram to enter first information into search fields provided in saidcomputer program; entering the execute command using the input deviceafter the step of entering the first information; searching, using thecomputer program, directly the local and remote information sources forsecond information associated with the first information; comparing thesecond information retrieved from the local information source withsecond information retrieved from the remote information source; anddisplaying the second information from at least one of the local andremote information, when one of the local and remote information sourcesincludes second information associated with the first information.
 27. Acomputer readable medium for information handling, the computer readablemedium including program instructions for performing the steps of:providing an input device configured to enter an execute command whichinitiates a record retrieval from local and remote information sourcesusing a computer program; using said record retrieval program to enterfirst information into search fields provided in said computer program;entering the execute command using the input device after the step ofentering the first information; searching, using the computer program,directly the local and remote information sources for second informationassociated with the first information; displaying the second informationfrom at least one of the local and remote information sources, when oneof the local and remote information sources includes second informationassociated with the first information; storing the first information inthe local information source if no second information associated withthe first information is found in the local and remote informationsources during said searching step; and wherein said displaying step,includes, marking the second information found in the local informationsource as consistent with the second information found in the remoteinformation source, if second information associated with the firstinformation is found in both the local and remote information sourcesand is consistent, marking the second information found in the localinformation source as inconsistent with the second information found inthe remote information source, if second information associated with thefirst information is found in only the local and information source orif second information is found in both the local and remote informationsources and is inconsistent, and displaying the marked secondinformation.
 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising: providing auser the option of making changes to the second information directly inthe local information source.
 29. The method of claim 27, wherein: thestep of using said computer program comprises using said computerprogram to enter first information comprising at least one of a name, atitle, an address, a telephone number, and an email address, or a partthereof, into said computer program; and the step of searching comprisessearching, using the computer program, the local and remote informationsources for second information comprising at least one of a name, atitle, an address, a telephone number, and an email address, associatedwith the first information.
 30. The method of claim 27, wherein: thestep of providing an input device comprises providing one of a touchscreen, a keyboard button, an icon, a menu and a voice command device,configured to enter an execute command which initiates a recordretrieval from local and remote information sources using the computerprogram; and the step of displaying the second information comprisesdisplaying the second information comprising one of displaying thesecond information and providing a voiced response of the secondinformation.
 31. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of providingan input device comprises: providing an input device configured to enteran execute command which initiates a record retrieval from local andremote information sources comprising at least one of a file, adatabase, a database program, a computer network, and a contactmanagement program, using the computer program record retrieval program.32. A computerized method for information handling comprising: providingan input device configured to enter an execute command which initiates arecord retrieval from local and remote information sources using acomputer program; using said computer program to enter first informationinto search fields provided in said computer program; entering theexecute command using the input device after the step of entering thefirst information; searching, using the computer program, directly thelocal and remote information sources for second information associatedwith the first information; displaying the second information from atleast one of the local and remote information sources in said computerprogram, when one of the local and remote information sources includessecond information associated with the first information; and whereinsaid displaying step, includes, marking the second information found inthe local information source as consistent with the second informationfound in the remote information source, if second information associatedwith the first information is found in both the local and remoteinformation sources, marking the second information found in the localinformation source as inconsistent with the second information found inthe remote information source, if second information associated with thefirst information is found in only the local information source, anddisplaying the marked second information.
 33. A computer readable mediumfor information handling, the computer readable medium including programinstructions for performing the steps of: providing an input deviceconfigured to enter an execute command which initiates a recordretrieval from local and remote information sources using a computerprogram; using said computer program to enter first information intosearch fields provided in said computer program; entering the executecommand using the input device after the step of entering the firstinformation; searching, using the computer program, directly the localand remote information sources for second information associated withthe first information; displaying the second information from at leastone of the local and remote information sources in said computerprogram, when one of the local and remote information sources includessecond information associated with the first information; and whereinsaid displaying step, includes, marking the second information found inthe local information source as consistent with the second informationfound in the remote information source, if second information associatedwith the first information is found in both the local and remoteinformation sources, marking the second information found in the localinformation source as inconsistent with the second information found inthe remote information source, if second information associated with thefirst information is found in only the local information source, anddisplaying the marked second information.